The Viking Age
FanSided

A look at the undefeated Minnesota Vikings after the week 6 bye

By Nicholas Coyer

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his touchdown with tight end MyCole Pruitt (83) during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his touchdown with tight end MyCole Pruitt (83) during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson, since his knee injury week 2 has made it known he intends to return to NFL action as soon as he is eligible to return from Injured Reserve. For those not keeping track his return date is November 18.

It has been the opinion of many that the Vikings have been a better team without AP. Those people really do not understand the value the former NFL MVP,  5x First team All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler brings to the table. While AP was in this season, the offensive line was struggling bad, and AP was not performing at the level Vikings fans have come to expect.

That doesn’t mean that the fact that the Titans and the Packers did not sell out on run defense opening holes in the passing game. With AP on the field, teams either have to load the box or expose themselves to getting gashed by him.

Teams often choose to sell out on AP as opposed to letting him get through, and with Sam Bradford as the Vikings QB it’s going to provide several interesting situations. Will AP return as son he thinks he will? Probably not… but possibly.

If he does return, it will make this Minnesota Vikings team all the more powerful. Asiata and McKinnon have done a commendable job in his stead, but they do not command the same respect as AP.

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